There are 12 states that include in-office laser procedures by optometrists, with optometrists having performed more than 146,000 procedures across the country.  Optometrists train for nearly 10,000 hours to learn how to diagnose and treat glaucoma, cataracts and other diseases. It’s not uncommon for medical professionals, including optometrists, to participate in continuing education programs to enhance their profession and scope of work. While more is involved than a “weekend course,” when these common laser procedures are combined with other training, they are a part of the overall eye care services provided by optometrists.  Virginia has almost 2X more optometrists than ophthalmologists, making access to these procedures less burdensome to the working poor. All optometrists must be certified in laser procedures before performing them on patients. To be certified, they must have extensive clinical experience, complete hands-on training and pass a national certification exam! Thank you for your consideration!